Where the Wild Things Are Hands-On

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If the island is a-rockin', don't cine a-knockin'.

By Hilary Goldstein

Maurice Sendak's classic children's story, Where the Wild Things Are, is coming to a theatre and console near you. That news may send a chill through some who wish not to see the very short, but sweet book expanded into other mediums. But things such as this are inevitable. The game, which seems based off the film's lengthier plot, was made for kids. And though the demo is short, it certainly has promise (for a kid's game).

As with most movie adaptations, the production value and visuals in Where the Wild Things Are is not top-notch. Most likely developers Griptonite and Way Forward had less than a year to make this game. The easiest way to get that done is to forgo any sort of visual wizardry. While it's easy to get stuck on how a game looks, ultimately it's the gameplay that matters. And the demo isn't bad at all.

The demo begins with Max's arrival to the mysterious Wild Things island. No sooner is the little would-be king on the island than he discovers his scepter. This is used for attacks. Like I said, this is a kid's game and as such combat is relegated to a single button. Yes, it's button mashing goodness as you bash bees trying to sting you. There's also a block button, but it's rarely necessary. Despite being so simple, there's something comforting in Wild Things' progression.

So that's where the Wild Things Are!

Everything you expect from an action-platformer is here. Loads of enemies to bash, a variety of collectibles (some specific to each monster, plus fallen stars), and gaps to jump. This isn't an open world, but linear level design with a hub village to explore between missions.

The focus of the demo is on the monster Carol, who leads you through the jungle. After smashing a number of beehives and crushing a suitable amount of bees, the demo switches gears. Max hops onto Carol's back and goes for a ride. In this lengthy sequence, you guide Carol with gentle tugs from Max. Steer clear of obstructions, leap over some fallen trees and slide under others. There are fallen stars all around, so you have something to collect. It's not exactly an innovation in gameplay mechanics, but it works well.

And that's really the key for me in this early build. A lot of licensed games are rushed so fast that the gameplay itself is a little broken. That's not the case in the demo. I never had issues with the camera (which can be slightly manipulated, but not fully controlled) or with jumping or with thwacking enemies. I imagine there are some youngsters out there that will get a kick out of playing with their favorite wild things. Especially if the movie can deliver on the magic of the book.

Where the Wild Things Are ships on October 13. The game's publisher, Warner Bros., has not announced when or if a demo will be made available, but considering one exists in my hands, I'm assuming it's going to show up online within the next two months.